02/06/25 - Wakie Wakie 4:44

Author

Mark Evans DM
February 06, 2025

Welcome to Your 444 Newsletter!

Where clarity, action, and strategy collide. Today, we’re talking about a silent trap that keeps most entrepreneurs stuck at $1M—without even realizing it.

Most business owners think that if they just work harder, push through, and grind longer, they’ll scale to the next level. But here’s the truth:

👉 The systems that got you to $1M won’t get you to $10M.

Scaling isn’t about more hustle—it’s about smarter moves.

I just wrote a deep dive on the four shifts you MUST make to break through the $1M ceiling—and why most entrepreneurs never do.

4 Thoughts to Reflect On

  1. You built your business, but are you still running it like a startup? At $1M, most entrepreneurs are still doing too much themselves. That’s why their growth stalls.

  2. Your biggest bottleneck might be… you. If your business can’t grow without you in the weeds, it’s not really scalable yet.

  3. The same work that got you here is now keeping you stuck. At $10M, working “harder” isn’t the answer. Leverage and systems are.

  4. Your CEO role needs to evolve. Are you thinking and acting like a 7-figure operator or an 8-figure leader?

4 Lessons I’ve Learned

  1. Your job isn’t to solve problems—it’s to build a team that does. Scaling means hiring leaders, not just employees.

  2. Processes should run the business, not you. If every system relies on YOU, it’s not a system—it’s a task list.

  3. Growth isn’t the same as scale. More sales and more work is just “growth.” Scaling means increasing revenue WITHOUT increasing workload.

  4. The $10M mindset is about working ON the business, not just IN it. Are you stuck in daily operations—or actually making CEO-level moves?

4 Challenges to Tackle This Week

  1. Audit Your Role – What tasks are you still doing that you should have already delegated? Make a list. Start letting go.

  2. Evaluate Your Processes – If your business had to handle 10X the volume tomorrow, what would break first? Fix it now.

  3. Shift from Hustle to Leverage – Where can you automate, outsource, or streamline instead of just working harder?

  4. Step Into the $10M CEO Role – Ask yourself: What’s the biggest, highest-level move I can make this month?

"If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete.”
— Jack Welch

Final Thought

Scaling past $1M isn’t about grinding harder—it’s about scaling smarter.

You don’t need more hours—you need better systems, better thinking, and better leadership.

The entrepreneurs who figure this out are the ones who break through to $10M and beyond.

Here’s to scaling smarter,
Mark Evans DM

Magician vs Mule - Discover the secrets to creating wealth and freedom
Listen to the Podcast: Get inspired with expert interviews and actionable advice